Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Rehabilitation Assistant Practitioner to join the Physiotherapy Team at West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds.
We are looking for an enthusiastic person with experience of working predominantly with adults who have varying medical conditions.
We are a very friendly, supportive and dynamic team and offer regular individual supervision, opportunities for CPD, annual appraisals and training. Whilst no previous Physiotherapy experience is required, previous experience in a caring profession would be beneficial. You will need to demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills and a positive attitude to self-directed learning.
For informal enquiries contact: Diana Meredith Lead on 01284 713 640 or Helen Stewart, Professional Lead for Physiotherapy on 01284 713 639.
Main duties of the job
You would be working across the acute wards including cardiac, and general medicine. The post holder will hold a caseload whilst working alongside the Physiotherapists, assessing patients, and delivering therapy programmes which may include close contact with family/carers and other professionals.
The position requires working independently under the supervision of a Physiotherapist. There may be a requirement to assist other teams which may be located in the acute setting or in the community. Seven day working will be required as part of this role.
About us
#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community
We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.
The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.
Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.
We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.
With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.
We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.
Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Summary
- To work as part of the medical team in Integrated Therapies team delivering a high quality, effective and tailored therapy service to medical patients.
- To manage a defined non-complex caseload using evidence based, client centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions
Key Working Relationships:
- Patients and carers
- Physiotherapists and occupational therapists
- Multidisciplinary team members
- Colleagues and other professionals within acute, community, primary and tertiary healthcare
- Voluntary groups and organisations
Job Responsibilities
Clinical
- To manage a designated non-complex caseload of patients under the guidance /direction of a qualified physiotherapist and/or occupational therapist, organising and prioritising the allocated daily workload within the scope of the role.
- To undertake non-complex assessments and to plan and implement interventions to meet the patients needs and goals, concluding in safe timely discharge. This will be achieved using professional, theoretical knowledge and clinical reasoning skills.
- To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment interventions to support the patient, measure progress and ensure effectiveness, taking appropriate action to address issues or risks
- To use observation and assessment skills and role specific knowledge to monitor, record and report progress of or changes in patients to a senior qualified professional practitioner. This includes baseline standardised assessments and outcome measures, as well as recognising a deteriorating patient and taking the required action to support them and alert the therapist or relevant staff member
- To assess for, demonstrate, teach the use of and issue items of equipment required to support the patients recovery, rehabilitation and discharge
- To assess for, demonstrate, teach and modify exercise programmes to support the patients recovery, rehabilitation and discharge
- To manage the therapy discharge planning process for designated non-complex patients/clients and contribute to the process for complex patients/clients using set guidelines and protocols pertaining to functional fitness for discharge.
- To enable and empower patients to address their own health and wellbeing needs, motivating and supporting them to plan and manage their recovery using approaches such as health coaching
- To support the therapists to undertake complex assessments, frequently completing allocated aspects of the process independently, ensuring accuracy and efficiency.
Communication
- To work as a member of the multidisciplinary team representing Integrated Therapies, establishing effective communication networks with colleagues, supervisors, patients and carers, maintaining interactions with external agencies.
- To ensure effective communication with patients and carers to gain their active participation in their recovery/rehabilitation process including setting of realistic goals for functional safe discharge.
- To use an empathetic, motivational and reassuring approach to present and receive sensitive information and maximise the rehabilitation potential of the patient/client, being aware of own response to distressing circumstances.
- To establish professional relationships with patients and carers, communicating with them in ways that respect their views, beliefs and culture, and being aware of own response to distressing circumstances.
- To report to the physiotherapist in a timely manner, either verbally or in writing, information regarding patients performance and progress during rehabilitation programmes, identifying significant changes in levels of function and deviations from the planned outcome.
- To act as advocate for patient and profession ensuring patients needs and choices are the focus of the care process.
- To identify ways of overcoming potential barriers to effective communication.
Documentation
- To be responsible for the quality of information recorded, both electronic and paper based. The information should be accurate, legible, recorded in a timely manner, kept up to date and appropriately secured.
- To ensure that required patient activity data is recorded.
Professional Conduct and Professional Development
- To comply with local policies, protocols and procedures.
- To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of patients and carers.
- To uphold the values and the ethos of the service as a whole and to act as an advocate for patients maintaining the highest professional standards at all times.
- To review and reflect on your own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and performance review via Knowledge, Skills Framework (KSF)
- To undertake relevant activities to meet your development objectives as identified through the performance review process with your appraiser and to share learning with colleagues as agreed.
- In line with Trust guidelines, review and reflect on your own practice and performance through regular participation in professional supervision and performance review.
Leadership, Supervision and Appraisal
- To prepare for and actively participate in the Trusts annual performance development review process and progress reviews.
- Ensure training and development needs detailed in personal development plan are followed up and the effectiveness of the acquired training and development evaluated in terms of self, patient/client and service and actively participate in supervision sessions.
- To demonstrate awareness of leadership needs within clinical and professional situations and support the leadership activities of the qualified staff within the service.
Training and Education
- To participate in the non-clinical induction, training and education of students and other staff within the clinical specialism e.g. demonstrating own role and activities and departmental routines.
Service Development and Delivery
- To ensure the correct use, care and storage of equipment and resources used in the course of work duties, including patient belongings in their hospital and home environments.
- As part of the team, to participate in piloting new services and methods of working as agreed with your supervisor /Team Leader.
- To support the Medical Therapy team in promoting its role, inducting staff and students and training all bands of staff as required
- To support 7 day working within the Medical Therapy Team
Clinical Governance
- To be responsible for complying with Trust policies and clinical guidelines.
- To participate in clinical governance arrangements and activities, including audit and evaluation, for Integrated Therapies and any allocated wards
- As part of the Medical Therapy team, to incorporate up to date techniques into your clinical work, following relevant policies and procedures.
Line Management
- To plan/prioritise own patient workload seeking advice, on a regular basis.
- To exercise good personal time management skills in prioritising activities and working to deadlines.
- To be punctual and consistently reliable in your attendance.
- To be responsible for advising on resources required to manage roles and responsibilities.
To feedback / liaise with Line Manager on all issues relating to job role and responsibilities
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Summary
- To work as part of the medical team in Integrated Therapies team delivering a high quality, effective and tailored therapy service to medical patients.
- To manage a defined non-complex caseload using evidence based, client centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions
Key Working Relationships:
- Patients and carers
- Physiotherapists and occupational therapists
- Multidisciplinary team members
- Colleagues and other professionals within acute, community, primary and tertiary healthcare
- Voluntary groups and organisations
Job Responsibilities
Clinical
- To manage a designated non-complex caseload of patients under the guidance /direction of a qualified physiotherapist and/or occupational therapist, organising and prioritising the allocated daily workload within the scope of the role.
- To undertake non-complex assessments and to plan and implement interventions to meet the patients needs and goals, concluding in safe timely discharge. This will be achieved using professional, theoretical knowledge and clinical reasoning skills.
- To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment interventions to support the patient, measure progress and ensure effectiveness, taking appropriate action to address issues or risks
- To use observation and assessment skills and role specific knowledge to monitor, record and report progress of or changes in patients to a senior qualified professional practitioner. This includes baseline standardised assessments and outcome measures, as well as recognising a deteriorating patient and taking the required action to support them and alert the therapist or relevant staff member
- To assess for, demonstrate, teach the use of and issue items of equipment required to support the patients recovery, rehabilitation and discharge
- To assess for, demonstrate, teach and modify exercise programmes to support the patients recovery, rehabilitation and discharge
- To manage the therapy discharge planning process for designated non-complex patients/clients and contribute to the process for complex patients/clients using set guidelines and protocols pertaining to functional fitness for discharge.
- To enable and empower patients to address their own health and wellbeing needs, motivating and supporting them to plan and manage their recovery using approaches such as health coaching
- To support the therapists to undertake complex assessments, frequently completing allocated aspects of the process independently, ensuring accuracy and efficiency.
Communication
- To work as a member of the multidisciplinary team representing Integrated Therapies, establishing effective communication networks with colleagues, supervisors, patients and carers, maintaining interactions with external agencies.
- To ensure effective communication with patients and carers to gain their active participation in their recovery/rehabilitation process including setting of realistic goals for functional safe discharge.
- To use an empathetic, motivational and reassuring approach to present and receive sensitive information and maximise the rehabilitation potential of the patient/client, being aware of own response to distressing circumstances.
- To establish professional relationships with patients and carers, communicating with them in ways that respect their views, beliefs and culture, and being aware of own response to distressing circumstances.
- To report to the physiotherapist in a timely manner, either verbally or in writing, information regarding patients performance and progress during rehabilitation programmes, identifying significant changes in levels of function and deviations from the planned outcome.
- To act as advocate for patient and profession ensuring patients needs and choices are the focus of the care process.
- To identify ways of overcoming potential barriers to effective communication.
Documentation
- To be responsible for the quality of information recorded, both electronic and paper based. The information should be accurate, legible, recorded in a timely manner, kept up to date and appropriately secured.
- To ensure that required patient activity data is recorded.
Professional Conduct and Professional Development
- To comply with local policies, protocols and procedures.
- To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of patients and carers.
- To uphold the values and the ethos of the service as a whole and to act as an advocate for patients maintaining the highest professional standards at all times.
- To review and reflect on your own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and performance review via Knowledge, Skills Framework (KSF)
- To undertake relevant activities to meet your development objectives as identified through the performance review process with your appraiser and to share learning with colleagues as agreed.
- In line with Trust guidelines, review and reflect on your own practice and performance through regular participation in professional supervision and performance review.
Leadership, Supervision and Appraisal
- To prepare for and actively participate in the Trusts annual performance development review process and progress reviews.
- Ensure training and development needs detailed in personal development plan are followed up and the effectiveness of the acquired training and development evaluated in terms of self, patient/client and service and actively participate in supervision sessions.
- To demonstrate awareness of leadership needs within clinical and professional situations and support the leadership activities of the qualified staff within the service.
Training and Education
- To participate in the non-clinical induction, training and education of students and other staff within the clinical specialism e.g. demonstrating own role and activities and departmental routines.
Service Development and Delivery
- To ensure the correct use, care and storage of equipment and resources used in the course of work duties, including patient belongings in their hospital and home environments.
- As part of the team, to participate in piloting new services and methods of working as agreed with your supervisor /Team Leader.
- To support the Medical Therapy team in promoting its role, inducting staff and students and training all bands of staff as required
- To support 7 day working within the Medical Therapy Team
Clinical Governance
- To be responsible for complying with Trust policies and clinical guidelines.
- To participate in clinical governance arrangements and activities, including audit and evaluation, for Integrated Therapies and any allocated wards
- As part of the Medical Therapy team, to incorporate up to date techniques into your clinical work, following relevant policies and procedures.
Line Management
- To plan/prioritise own patient workload seeking advice, on a regular basis.
- To exercise good personal time management skills in prioritising activities and working to deadlines.
- To be punctual and consistently reliable in your attendance.
- To be responsible for advising on resources required to manage roles and responsibilities.
To feedback / liaise with Line Manager on all issues relating to job role and responsibilities
Person Specification
Education & Qualifications
Essential
- GCSE grade A - C in Maths and English
- Foundation degree in health related subject OR L3 Qualification in health related subject with a minimum of two years' experience working within a healthcare environment and Completion of a relevant health competency framework
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- Experience of working in a rehabilitation role in an acute healthcare setting
- Experience of managing a delegated workload
- Experience of implementing programmes/interventions as prescribed by qualified practitioner
Desirable
- Experience of working with older people and those with dementia
- Experience of working in a multidisciplinary environment
- Experience of working in a rehabilitation environment
- Experience of electronic record keeping
- Knowledge of clinical conditions relating to ageing, such as falls, frailty, stroke, dementia
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Able to organise and prioritise a designated workload
- Able to work without direct supervision, within an agreed scope of practice
- Effective verbal and written communication skills combined with excellent interpersonal skills
- Able to assess and manage risk within the scope of the role
- Able to react appropriately to change and to work under pressure
- Computer literate
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Commitment to delivering consistently high standards of care
- Flexible approach to working hours/duties
- Commitment to continuing personal and professional development
Other Requirements
Essential
- Ability to travel to all rural locations to carry out post
Person Specification
Education & Qualifications
Essential
- GCSE grade A - C in Maths and English
- Foundation degree in health related subject OR L3 Qualification in health related subject with a minimum of two years' experience working within a healthcare environment and Completion of a relevant health competency framework
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- Experience of working in a rehabilitation role in an acute healthcare setting
- Experience of managing a delegated workload
- Experience of implementing programmes/interventions as prescribed by qualified practitioner
Desirable
- Experience of working with older people and those with dementia
- Experience of working in a multidisciplinary environment
- Experience of working in a rehabilitation environment
- Experience of electronic record keeping
- Knowledge of clinical conditions relating to ageing, such as falls, frailty, stroke, dementia
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Able to organise and prioritise a designated workload
- Able to work without direct supervision, within an agreed scope of practice
- Effective verbal and written communication skills combined with excellent interpersonal skills
- Able to assess and manage risk within the scope of the role
- Able to react appropriately to change and to work under pressure
- Computer literate
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Commitment to delivering consistently high standards of care
- Flexible approach to working hours/duties
- Commitment to continuing personal and professional development
Other Requirements
Essential
- Ability to travel to all rural locations to carry out post
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
